Wondering About Switching 15 Month Old to Bigger Bed.

Hey, Abbey! We bought a full-sized bed for our daughter when she was 14 months (we're also expecting a second, in January). She loves it and made the switch pretty easily. I think they like not being confined once they hit the toddler age. We've only had a couple of nights where she's actually gotten out of bed. Usually, she'll just lie down with her lovey and go right to sleep. It's been great. We got her a Serta Kids' Line mattress (less coils than a regular mattress, but really comfy) at HOM Furniture for $400 (includes mattress, box spring, and waterproof protector). Our daughter usually sleeps through the night now (she used to wake up around 5 and come to bed with us for the last hour or two of sleep). I miss the cuddling, but she seems better rested!

Abbey-
If you are going to make the switch, the sooner, the better. You do not want her to link the need to be "pushed out the bed" due to a new baby. So I would do the transition now. Now the sleeping in your bed is more of a habbit than the bed. This is very common for all kids whose parents bring them into the bed and co-sleep. (It is more common than many will admit to). Her being in your bed and sleeping so well is just because it is your bed. In the morning she has you there and that is comforting. WHen you nap her in your bed, the same thing, it has your small and gives her comfort. The earlier you break it, the easier it is. SInce you are questioning transitioning her to a regular bed anyway, may as well do it at the same time. We did this with my son before my daughter while I was pregnant. Took some work and determination, but it happened. With my daughter we have been more lazy. She is now 6 (shhhhhh) and still comes to our bed every morning at 5AM..... Depends on how tired I am if I bother taking her back or if I just move over..... (LOL)..... She has giving me something to think about.... SHe asked me why would she want to stay in her own bed, when she rolls to the other side it is cold, but at least in our bed it is warm and cozy... Your toddler is safe in a bigger bed, especially if you are placing it on the floor. We always did standard beds with rails; but I think you should work on it now for sure.

It's hard to break a habit once it's become one. We're okay with the kids sleeping in our bed or on a mattress next to our bed or in the pack in play in our room but they usually only sleep in our room for naps and on Friday and Saturday-non work nights. I'd say she's not ready and it's a comfort thing. My youngets is turning 2 this month and she helped me disassemble her crib and sleeps in a toddler bed. I tried when she was 19-20 months old in the toddler bed and she kept getting out but this time she stays put. Both of my kids were not ready until around 2 but each kid is different. Try her out in a toddler bed or take the mattress out and put it on the floor and see how she does. With our oldest she wouldn't sleep in her toddler bed but would sleep on blankets on the floor then to the mattress then to the toddler bed. It was a hard and difficult transition but one that eventually took place a month or two before our second was born.

this sounds like a great question! :D my son was sleeping much the same at 15 months. i nursed him until he weaned himself at 19 months, and he slept with us starting at like 4 or 5, until around 7-730. about 20 months we noticed that he wanted to sleep flopped on top of one of our pillows, to the point where one night we put one in his crib and he flopped right down on it and he went right to sleep! so try that - give your daughter a nice full sized pillow.

our sons crib is right in our room, and i dont plan on changing that. i like the fact that hes right there if something happens... i know its probably unlikely, and its just some crazy "what if" story, but if our furnace starts on fire, our sons room is on the other side of it from our room... and i just feel safer knowing that i would just have to pick him up and head out the window instead of having to cross "through the fire" to get to him...

many parents put their kids on matresses on their bedroom floors, something that the sears famiy of doctors also suggests! www.askdrsears.com

this sounds like a fine solution, however, try the pillow thing in her crib. she might like that :D but take it easy, the more gentle you can make this for her, the easier it will be for her to mature and grow. you sound like a mom who is well in tune with her childs needs and thats a good thing! :D dont let anyone tell you otherwise. you know your instincts are right, and not the advice of someone else. i once heard someone say they wished their bedroom was just a room of matresses! :D that way the whole family could sleep right on the floor! :P

anyway, good luck, and congrats on the new one coming, and just keeping listening to your instincts! :D

A mattress on the floor, dressed with your old bedsheets (smell like mommy and daddy) is in my opinion a WONDERFUL alternative to the crib which you will, most likely, want for your next child's arrival. My six year-old climbs into my bed on weekend mornings after the sun comes up and she always comments how our bed smells better and is so warm. I think they just like the smell of their parents and this is conducive to good sleep.

Hi Abbey. I would say without hesitation that it is absolutely not too early to switch to a full size bed. In fact we did this with our son about the same time- granted, he was big for his size and did a lot of tossing and turning when sleeping, so the hinderance of the crib I truly belive affected his sleep. We didn't even consider a toddler bed or even a twin. We knew he would be a big kid- Dad is 6'3", so we thought we'd save ourselves the expense of more than one bed. He made the transistion marvelously! We bought some fun sheets (although be prepared, the character sheets often don't come in full size, only twin). We got some with puppies and sheep and he loved going to his "big boy bed with the cool sheets". A bonus with the full as opposed to the twin is more space for rolling without rolling off- but I do think putting in on the floor for awhile is a great idea. The basic bed frames, though are not that high off the ground and only cost about $25. Laying with your sweetheart for awhile at bedtime will help too...she'll have the best of both worlds for awhile during the transistion. Best of luck!

Hi Abbey, I bet she likes sleeping in mom and dad's bed b/c she knows you 2 are there...and it smells like you when you are not there. Maybe try letting her sleep in her bed with the shirt that you wore all day or give her the pillow/blanket from your bed. Its worth a shot! Good luck.

I have an 8 year old that also likes my bed better. She was given a brand new full size bed bedroom set from her grandparents in 2006. She also complained that the mattress wasn't comfortable. I purchased a thick memory foam in 2007 for her bed and she loves it. The only time she now sleeps with me is when she is sick (very seldom) or we have a girls bonding slumber party on the weekends. A. S.

To me it sounds like she is comforted by sleeping in your bed. She will most likely have the same sleeping habits regardless if she's in a crib, toddler bed or big bed. It sounds very much how my daughter was/is. She is 4 yrs. old now and still loves sleeping in our bed! :) Which is allowed on certain occasions. I would try giving her a "lovey" blanket or stuffed toy that smells like you. Try sleeping with her toy for a few nights and then pass it back to her so the scent of mom is there too! My daughter now loves to find my blankets from the closet and sleep with those on her bed. Sometimes it helps that if we can't be in the bed with them, at least it smells like we are there! :) Good luck!